The Cavaliers entered this offseason with two stated goals. One was to become playoff-worthy, and do so in a hurry.

The other was to manage their salary cap in such a way that they’d have plenty of space available should any of the big-time free agents on the market in the summer of 2014 decide they might like to play alongside the banks of the Cuyahoga River—you know, maybe a certain local fellow by the name of LeBron James, for example.

Getting Bynum on a short deal helps them work toward achieving both.

Bynum, of course, presents a tremendous risk for any team. Though he had a breakout season in which he averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds for the Lakers two years ago, he was sent to Philadelphia last summer and proceeded to miss the entire season with injuries to both knees.

Bynum has struggled with knee problems even before he arrived in the NBA, and teams have been scared off by the possibility that his knees will never be healthy enough for him to play 82 games.

Still, Bynum’s potential when healthy—and the fact that he almost has to accept a short-term deal because of his injury situation—is tempting for the Cavaliers.

Similarly, Bynum is a target in Dallas, where the Mavericks missed out on center Dwight Howard and now must construct a roster around forward Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavs have already signed point guards Devin Harris and Jose Calderon.

The Cavaliers could have the ability to create more than $20 million in cap space for next summer, enough to lure a top-tier free agent to play alongside budding-star guard Kyrie Irving.

But in order for that to happen, the team needs to show it can win in the Eastern Conference, or else the franchise will be seen only for the lack of success—64-166 record, and no playoff appearances—in the three years since James left for Miami.

James himself has given no indication that he wants to go back to Cleveland—or leave Miami at all—for his next contract, but such rumors have long been floated by those around him.